1.
e4
e5
2.
d4
exd4
3.
Qxd4
Nc6
4.
Qe3
Nf6
5.
Nc3
Bb4
6.
Bd2
O-O
7.
O-O-O
Re8
8.
Qg3
Nxe4
9.
Nxe4
Rxe4
10.
Bf4
Qf6
11.
Nh3
d6
12.
Bd3
Nd4
13.
Be3
Bg4
14.
Ng5
Rxe3
15.
Qxg4
Ne2+
16.
Bxe2
Rxe2
17.
Ne4
Rxe4
18.
Qxe4
Qg5+
19.
f4
Qb5
20.
c3
Bc5
21.
Rhe1
Qc6
22.
Rd5
Qd7
23.
f5
c6
24.
Rd2
d5
25.
Qf3
Be7
26.
Rde2
Bf6
27.
Qh5
h6
28.
g4
Kh7
29.
Kb1
Rd8
30.
Rd1
c5
31.
Qh3
Qa4
32.
Red2
Qe4+
33.
Ka1
b5
34.
Qg2
Qa4
35.
Kb1
b4
36.
cxb4
Qxb4
37.
a3
Qa4
38.
Rxd5
Rb8
39.
R1d2
c4
40.
Qg3
Rb3
41.
Qd6
c3
42.
Rc2
cxb2
43.
Rd3
Qe4
44.
Rd1
Rc3
0-1
Opening Explorer
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Site
Berlin
Date
1913.11.20
Round
2
White
Black
Result
0-1
Mieses–Capablanca, Berlin 1913, a sharp Centre Game in which Capablanca seizes the initiative, weathers great complications, and grinds out a win a clear exchange ahead. His own notes from Chess Fundamentals (1921), now public domain, follow.
- 7…Re8 In this position, instead of the text move, P - Q 3 is often played in order to develop the Q B. My idea was to exert sufficient pressure against the K P to win it, and thus gain a material advantage. The plan, I think, is quite feasible, my subsequent difficulties being due to faulty execution of the plan.
- 10…Qf6 White's threat to regain the Pawn was merely with the idea of gaining time to develop his pieces. With the text move Black aims at taking the initiative away from White in accordance with the principles laid down in this book.
- 11…d6 This now is not only a developing move, but it also threatens to win a piece by B x Kt.
- 12…Nd4 This complicates the game unnecessarily. R - K 1 was simple, and perfectly safe.
- 13…Bg4 This is a serious mistake. The position was most interesting, and though in appearance dangerous for Black, not so in reality. The right move would have been 13...R - Kt 5, when we would have 14 B x Kt, R x B; 15 P - Q B 3, B x P; 16 P x B, R - K Kt 5; 17 Q - K 3 (best), Q x P ch; 18 B - B 2, Q x Q; 19 P x Q, R x P, and Black has the best of the game.
- 22.Rd5 Q x Q would have given White a decided advantage, enough to win with proper play. Mieses, however, feared the difficulties of an ending where, while having the exchange, he would be a Pawn minus. From this point the game will gradually improve in Black's favour until, with the exchange ahead, White is lost.
- 24…d5 My plan for the moment is very simple. It will consist in bringing my Bishop around to B 3. Then I shall try to paralyse White's attack against my King by playing P - K R 3, and also prevent White from ever playing P - K Kt 5. Once my King is safe from attack I shall begin to advance my Queen's side Pawns, where there are four to three.
- 28…Kh7 To prevent P - K R 4, which I would answer with P - K Kt 3, winning the Queen. It can now be considered that my King is safe from attack.
- 36…Qxb4 Black has now a passed Pawn, and his Bishop exerts great pressure.
- 41…c3 B x P would also win, which shows that White's game is altogether gone. In these cases, however, it is not the prettiest move that should be played, but the most effective one, the move that will make your opponent resign soonest.
- 44…Rc3 Of course White must play Q - Q 2, and Black then plays R x P.
[Event "Match Capablanca-Mieses +2-0=0"] [Site "Berlin"] [Date "1913.11.20"] [Round "2"] [White "Mieses, Jacques"] [Black "Capablanca, Jose Raul"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8 8. Qg3 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Rxe4 10. Bf4 Qf6 11. Nh3 d6 12. Bd3 Nd4 13. Be3 Bg4 14. Ng5 Rxe3 15. Qxg4 Ne2+ 16. Bxe2 Rxe2 17. Ne4 Rxe4 18. Qxe4 Qg5+ 19. f4 Qb5 20. c3 Bc5 21. Rhe1 Qc6 22. Rd5 Qd7 23. f5 c6 24. Rd2 d5 25. Qf3 Be7 26. Rde2 Bf6 27. Qh5 h6 28. g4 Kh7 29. Kb1 Rd8 30. Rd1 c5 31. Qh3 Qa4 32. Red2 Qe4+ 33. Ka1 b5 34. Qg2 Qa4 35. Kb1 b4 36. cxb4 Qxb4 37. a3 Qa4 38. Rxd5 Rb8 39. R1d2 c4 40. Qg3 Rb3 41. Qd6 c3 42. Rc2 cxb2 43. Rd3 Qe4 44. Rd1 Rc3 0-1